Culture Mikimoto Pearl Island Off the coast of Toba is Mikimoto Pearl Island. This Mie Prefecture attraction is the birthplace of cultured pearls and is operated by the Mikimoto Pearl..
Historical Welcome the New Year at Ise Jingu Dan Traylor After the countdown, make way for hatsumode — the first shrine visit of the new year — at the Ise Grand Shrine
Museums Basho. Haiku or Ninja Master? Chris Glenn There’s a rumor that the famed haiku poet Matsuo Basho wasn’t just a master of poetry, but a master of the art of the Ninja!
Culture Tsu Castle Located in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, Tsu Castle was built in 1558. Originally home to Hosono Fujiatsu, Oda Nobunaga took control of the small castle ten..
Culture Visiting an Ama Diver Hut in Toba Cathy Cawood Meeting Japan's female Ama divers over a delicious seafood lunch with spiny lobster at Hachiman-Kamado, an Ama diver hut in..
Culture Harvest Your Own Pearls Bryan Baier The Pearl Miki in Ise-Shima City in Japan's Mie Prefecture offers a pearl harvesting experience at a near-century-old pearl..
Culture Kitabatake Gardens The serene gardens of Kitabatake Gardens were once host to a bloody massacre. Ruled by the Kiriyama Castle ruling clan, the Kitabatake, for 240 years..
Culture Igayaki Ceramics Class Jeanne Austry Protected in the mountains, the traditional craft of the Iga pottery can still be experienced today. Discover more about traditional..